Wire shaping machine



Feb. 17, 1959 E. L. BRONSTIEN, JR; ETAL 2,873,768

I WIRE SHAPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9, 1953 .12 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 17, 1959 Filed Nbv. 9,195;

E. 1.. BRONSTIEN, JR., EIAL WIRE SHAPING MACHINE 7 12 Sheets-Sheet s E. LJBRONSTIEN, JR", ETAL 2,873,768

WIRE SHAPING MACHINE Feb. 17, 1959 Filed Nov. 9, 1953 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 17, 1959 E. L. BRONSTIEN, JR., ETAL 2, 7

WIRE SHAPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9, 1953 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEIX/TORS. ''c/u/ E. L. BRONSTIEN, JR., ET AL 2,873,768

Feb. 17, 1959 WIRE SHAPING MACHINE l2 Sheets-Sheet '6 Filed Nov. 9, 1953 Feb. 17, 1959 E. 1.. BRONSTIEN, JR., ET AL 2,373,768

, WIRE SHAPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9, 1953 12 SheetsSheet 7 b- 1959 E. BRONSTIEN, JR; ETAL 2,873,768

' WIRE SHAPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9, 1953 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 IIIIII IN V EN TORS.

Feb. 17, 1959' E. BRONSTIEN, JR., ETAL 2,873,768

WIRE SHAPING MACHINE l2 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Nov. '9, 1953 v INVENTORS Feb. 17, 19 5 9 B'RONSTIEN, JR., ETAL ,873,

WIRE SHAPING MACHINE.

l2 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed NOV. 9, 1953 'Q Q Q m L- camx irrmcc INVENTORS Feb, '17, 1959 E. BRONSTIEN, JR., EI'AL 2,8

WIRE SHAPING MACHINE l2 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Nov. 9, 1953 United States Patent wmn SHAPING MACHINE Edward L. Bronstien, Jr., St. Paul, and RichaidA. Fisher, Golden Valley, Minn.', assignors to .The Un1ted States Bedding 'Co., St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application November 9, 1953, Serial No. 391,016

9 Claims. (Cl. 140-71) The present invention relates. to a wire bending and shaping machine and has special reference to a machine for bending and coiling wire intovariousshapessuch as for producing stabilizers for inner spring units of the type disclosed in Martin Patent No. 2,509,831.

More particularly this invention relates to a machine for automatically and continuouslyforming from a coil or strip of wire, stabilizers which are hexagonal in shape with the outwardly extending and bulging portions intermediate two of its substantially straight sides turned to form 'a circularloop at their central or outer portions.

The present machine feeds a continuous length of wire, cuts off portions thereof into properlength, forms the wire length or sections into the desired shape, including loops, and then discharges theformed member. The machine is automatic throughout and rapidly performs the various steps in timed sequence.

While the present machine is designed to form a par-- Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description andclaims when considered in connection with the drawingsin which Fig. 1 is a top plan view. of a wire forming machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a' front elevational view of the wire forming machine shown in Fig. '1 with .thewire straightening mechanism and certainother parts omitted.

Fig. 3 is a top' plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 2 with the top cover plate removed.

Fig. 4.is a front elevational viewof' the forming section of the machine shownin Fig. 2 with the lower'formingdie actuated to partially shape. the wire.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to.Fig.= '4 showing .the forming dies in.closed position'to giveLthe. wire section its final shape, V

Fig. 6 'is a horizontal-cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross. sectionalxvliew taken on. the

line 7-7 of Fig; 6. i

Fig. 8 is an end elevational view of: the .wirefeeding 65 Fig. 9 is a longitudinal cross, sectionalview taken on mechanism.

the .line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig; 10 is a vertical, cross sectional view Fig. 11 is 'a view similar to Fig..6.showinga portion ofv the machine, therein ,with certain. position. v f

(if the: wire looping mechanism taken on the.line 1.010,.0f :Fig. 3.

parts .in changed 2,873,768 Fat-tented Feb. 17, 1959 Fig. 12 is a partial rear elevational view of-the machine. 1

Fig. 13 is a partial rear plan view of the upper movableforming die.

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view taken on the line- 14-14 of Fig. 13. i Fig. 15 is a rear elevational view of thelower movable die.

Fig. 16 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 16-46 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is'an exploded view of a coiling-dog of the looping mechanism and operating elements associated therewith. v

Fig. 18 is a plan view 'of the plunger guide shown in Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a plan view of the cam plate shown in- Fig. 17.

Fig. 20 is an end .viewof the dog operating plungershown in Fig. 17'.

Fig. 21' is a side elevational view of an upper stripper plate.

Fig. 22 is a plan view of the stripper plate shown in Fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is a cross sectional view, partially in elevation, of a portion of thefront supporting plate with a stripper bar and its guide pins positioned therein.

Fig. 24 is a top plan view of a wire coiling dog.

Fig. 25 is a side elevational view of the coiling-dog. shown in Fig. 24.

Fig. 26 is an end view of the coiling dog shown in Figs. 24 and 25. 1

Fig. 27 is an end elevational view of the right front guide plate at the receiving side of the machine.

Fig. 28 is an end elevational view of the left front guide plate. g I

Fig. 29 is a schematic layout of the hydraulic operating system of the machineand the controls therefor, and

Fig. 30 is a perspective view of a completed wire. stabilizer formed on the present machine.

Referring more particularly to the drawings there is shown a wire forming machine embodying the present invention having in addition to straightening, feeding and cut-oif means, three main parts; comprising cooperating forming dies for bending the wire to-desired outline, a rack and twisting gear assembly for forming coils or; loops in the wire, and ejector mechanism for disch'arg-- ingthe shaped wire member from the -nrachine.

F ceding aizdLcutting mechanism; r I The wire for, forming stabilizers or other articles isfed from a reel 11 through a wirecstra'ightener 12' and into the forming portion of the machine in proper-lengths by feeding and cutting mechanismfshownparticularly in Figs.- 1,-'2, 3; 8 and 9. After passing through the-wire straightener 12, the'wire 13 passes between a pair of feed rolls .14-and-"15 mounted'about vertically arranged axes 16 and 17. As shown .in Fig. 8 the feeding rolls 14 and one of the ;clutches is free wheeling whileathe other 'i in driving-engagement withitsshafti 'As the piston 22 :(cFig;

9) is moved .toward the right byliairunderipressureisup-fi; plied-to the-outer find-10ft the cylinder. '19 the izlutclinfli ;is--in.free wheeling, pesitienrend does notidriveethe 16. However, the clutch 26 is connected to the, gear 26a and rotates the shaft 17 in a direction to feed the wire between the two rollers.

The rack 24 moves. a .suiiicient distance to' cause onehalf the desired length of wire to be fed as the rack is moved to the right in Fig. 9. Thereafter air, underpressure, is forced into the outer end of the opposite cylinder 21 and simultaneously exhausted from the cylinder 19. The rack 24 is thus moved back to its original position. During this movement of the rack 24 the clutch 26 free wheels while the clutch 25 is connected to the gear 25a and drives the shaft 16 and the feed roll 14 thereon an amount sufiicient to feed one-half the desired length of wire. Reciprocation of the rack 24. as above described will, therefore, feed the desired length of wire for one article.

After. the desired length of wire has been fed between the feed rolls 14 and 15 cutting mechanism is actuated tojsever the wire. The cutting mechanism comprises a knife or cutter 27 connected to a piston in the vertically arranged cylinder 28 (Fig. 2); When air under pressure is supplied to the lower end of the cylinder the cutting member 28. is forced up to the guide and die 29 and severs the wire 13. Air is then supplied to the upper end of the cylinder 28 to force the member 27 to its lower position. The wire feeding and cutting mechanisms .are mounted upon one side of a base 31.

Wire forming mechanism The main portions of the machine are mounted on or between a front supporting plate 32 and a rear supporting plate 33 in spaced relation thereto positioned on the base 31. A pair of guide plates 34 and 35 (Figs. 2, 27 and 28) are secured to the front lower portion of the supporting plate 32. As shown, particularly in Figs. 27 and 28, the guide plates are cut away to form an inner ledge or shelf upon which the wire pieces are supported as they are fed into the formingv portion of the machine. The shelf 36 of the guide plate 34 is substantially horizontal while the ledge 37 of the guide plate 35 has a substantial upward slope. The guides 34 and 35 are flared outwardly at their receiving ends to insure that the wire is guided onto the shelves 36 and 37.

The generally hexagonal shape desired for the stabilizers is formed in the wire by means of three dies. A stationary die 38 fixedly mounted on the front face of the supporting plate 32 is provided with a generally rectangular outline, although the upper and lower faces thereof are somewhat concave as illustrated. The stationary die is adjustably mounted on the plate 32 by bolts 39 passing through slots 41 in the die.

A lower movable die' 42 is arranged'on the front of the supporting plate 32 directly below the stationary die 38. The lower die as seen in Figs. 2, 4, 5, l and 16 is preferably formed straight across its upper forming edge for a distance substantially equal to the width of the stationary die, except for a central upwardly bulging portion 43. The sides 40 of the die forming edge are flared upwardly and outwardly providing a generally concave forming edge. In order to maintain the wire in position, the die is provided with a groove 44 adjacent the front plate 32.

The lower movabledie 42 is connected to the forwardly extending portionv 45 of a die'block 46 vertically reciprocable in the guides 47 (Figs. 6 and 7). The forwardly extending portion 45 of the die block 46 rides in the slot 48 formed in the lower centralportion of the front supporting plate 32. The die block 46 is connected to the lower end of a piston rod '49 of a piston 51 positioned in a cylinder 52." Suitable ducts and ports are provided for supplying air under'pressure' to the opposite ends of the cylinder. When the air is supplied to the lower end of the cylinder 52forcing the piston 51 and the die block 46*upwardly,-the lower die 42 is movedfrom its lower positionshownin Fig.2 to its upper. operative position shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The die is restored to its lower position by supplying air to the upper end of the cylinder 52 and discharging the air from the lower end thereof.

The upper movable die 53 positioned directly above the fixed die 38 has a lower forming edge of substantially the same size and shape as the forming edge of the lower die 42 (Figs. 4, 5, l3 and 14). However, the upper die 53 is also provided With a downwardly and forwardly extending finger 54. The upper movable die 53 is con nected to the forwardly extending portion 54 of a die block 55 (Fig. 7) which is similar to the lower die block 46 and is similarly guided by vertically arranged guides 56 on each side thereof. The forwardly extending portion 54 of the upper die block projects through a slot 57 extending downwardly from the upper edge of the front supporting plate 32. A piston rod 58 connects the upper die block 55 to the piston 59 of a cylinder 61. Suitable ports connected to a fluid pressure system supply air to the opposite ends of the cylinder 61. When air is supplied to the upper end of the cylinder 61 the piston is forced downwardly, thereby moving the upper die 53 from its upper normal position shown in Fig. 4 downwardly to its lower operative position substantially in contact with the upper end of the stationary die 38, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The upper die 53 is restored to normal position by the supply of air to the lower end of the cylinder 61. The operation of the lower and upper dies 42 and 53 respectively serves to provide the wire 13 with the desired hexagonal outline, as appears from Figs. 4 and 5.

Coiling mechanism Suitable coiling mechanism is employed for forming the loops or coils 2 at the opposite ends of the hexagonal shaped stabilizer 1 (Fig. 30). The coils are formed by suitable dogs 62jarranged to engage the outside of the wire after it has been shaped at the bottom by the raising of the lower die 42 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The locking dogs 62 are then rotated to coil the wire at the ends thereof into loops 2 (Fig. 30). Thereafter the upper die 53 is lowered to give the wire the final desired shape. As both coiling mechanisms are the same only one need be described.

'Each of the coiling dogs 62, shown particularly in Figs. 6, '11, 17, and 24-26, is pivotally mounted intermediate its. ends in the forward end of a plunger guide .63 (Fig. 18) rotatably mounted in one of the cam plates 72 (Fig. 19) secured at each side of the stationary die 38 in' the supporting plate 32. Any suitable pivot member such as a pin 64 may be employed for this purpose.

Theouter free end of the dog 62 is provided with a lip 65 to provide space inwardly thereof between the side of the dog 62 and the plate 32, as shown in Fig. 6,

for the reception of the wire 13. The opposite end of the dog 62 is connected to aplunger 66 (Fig. 20) by a link 67. A spring 68 positioned about theplunger 'stem 69 maintainsthe plunger 66 in its forward posi- I tion shown in Fig. 6. Rearward movement of the plunger causes the freeend of dog 62 to be pivoted outwardly asshowninFig. 11 permitting the shaped-- wire to be removed from beneath the dogs 62.

.Each cam plate 72 has an outwardly projecting cam surface 73 which gradually rises from the level of the cam plate 72 a distance greater than the diameter of the wire to be shaped. The plates 72 are so arranged in the front supporting plate 32 that as the right dog 62 rotates counter-clockwise and the left dog rotates clockwise, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 2, the lip 65 of each dog 62 will be gradually raised by the cam surface 73 until it' attains its maximum height therefrom just before it reaches the Wire portion held adjacentcthe plunger guide .63 by the action of the lower guideplate 62.. 1 Further rotation of-thedogsas hereina after explained more in detail causes the dogs to pass in size and is rotatably mounted in abearing 76. As the plunger guide 63 is rotatable in the cam plate, rota- I tion of 'the wrapping gear 75 will cause a rotation of the plunger guide 63 and the dog 62 mounted therein The two wrapping gears 75 mesh with spur gears 77 positioned inwardly thereof which in turn engage the opposite sides of a rack 78. A piston rod 79 (Figs. 7 and connects the rack 78 positionedbetween vertical rack guide plates 80 with the piston 81in acylin der 82 positioned above the rack 78. Accordingly, movement of the piston 81 and cylinder 82 causes reciprocation of the rack 78, normally maintained in its lowermost position shown in Fig. 7. When air under pressure is admitted to'the lower end of thecylinder 82 the piston 81 is-forced upwardly carrying the rack 78 with it. The upward movement of the piston rotates the gears 77 and the wrapping gears 75 in mesh therewith and rotates the dogs 62 in the direction of the arrows on Figs. 2 and 10.

The upper movement of the rack in the machine illustrated is preferably suflicient to cause almost two complete revolutions of the dogs. As the dogs start to rotate they ride up on the cam surface of cam plate '72, and the lips 65 pass over'the adjacent wires-tothe outer side thereof. The dogs thencontinuetheir rota tion to form 'a complete loop and bring the ends of the wire inwardly and downwardly so that the longer end will pass downwardly below the clip. 83 of'the adjacent stripper plate 84 and the finger 54 of the upper die:

plate 53, and the short end of the wire is forced downwardly below the clip 83 on the adjacent stripper plate 84. For certain purposes it may be desirableto forma loop by rotating said dog only part of a complete circle in which case an open loop is formed instead of a closed loop. Thereafter air is admitted to the upper end of the cylinder 82 returning the rack 78 to its lower position and reversing the rotation of dogs until they reach their original starting position.

As the dogs 62 commence their reverse rotation the short end of the wire is hooked under the clip 83 adjacent thereto and the long end of the wire is hooked under its adjacent clip 83-and under-the finger 54 of theupper die 53, as shown in Fig. 4., During this reverse rotation of the dogs 62 the lips-65 thereof can pass up over the wires due to their beveled faces; indicated at 65a in Fig. 26. Thereafter downward movement of the upper die as; shown in Fig; 5 completes the shaping of the wire member; Air 'is then directed-to the. opposite ends of the'cylind'ers 52'and 61 to return the lower and upper movabledies" respectively to-their. the fixed die--38, as -shownnormal position spaced from in Fig. 2.

Ejectir'zg mechanism The upper stripper plates .84 (Figs. 2, 4.5,l0, 12; 21 and 22) fit into openings provided therefor in the 7 front supporting plate 32 with theiroute'r surfaces preferably flush with the front face of the. supporting 'plate 32 and the clips 83 extending outwardly and down: wardly from these surfaces. Also ,positioneidin openings in the front of the supporting platei32 beneath the upper stripper plates 84 and' th'e locking "dogs 62 are stripper bars 85] (Figs. 10, 111', and 23)" the, outer surfaces of which are preferably planar and" are flush with the forward face of the supportingpla'te '32. The location of the stripper plates 84 and stripper bar-s85 is such that they will underlie portions of the shaped Ejector rods 86, 87, 88 and 89 are fixed to and extend rearwardly from the inner ends of stripper plates 84 and stripper bars SS'through the front supporting plate 32, rack guides and rear supporting plate 33. The rear ends of ejector rods 86 a'nd89 are connected to a connecting. plate 91 and the rear ends of ejector rods ing forward longitudinal movement of the shafts 69- with respect to the horizontal bar. Pivotally mounted on a bracket 97 fixed to the rear supporting plate 33 is a lever 98 having its inner end engaging the rear face of the connecting plate 92.. A similar lever 99 pivotally mounted on another bracket 97 at the opposite side of the machine engagesthe rear sideof the plate 91. The outer ends of-the levers 98 and 99 are positioned to be engaged'by stop pins 101 and 102 mounted on the horizontal bar 95.

The horizontal bar is connected to the piston rod 103 of a piston reciprocable in a cylinder 104 (Fig. 7). Accordingly, when air under pressure is admitted into the forward end ofthe cylinder 104 the piston therein is moved rearwardly and carries the horizontal bar 95 rearwardly with it. As the bar 95 is thus moved rearwardly, the plungers 66 and plunger guides 63 are also moved rearwardly, thus pivoting the free ends of the locking dogs 62 outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 11 where they are out of the path of all parts of the shaped wire. Rearward move ment of the bar 95-causes the outer end of the stop pins 101 and 102 to abut the short ends of the levers 98 and 99 forcing their opposite ends and the plates 92 and 91 contacted thereby forwardly. The stripper plates 84 and stripperbars 85 are carried forwardly with the plates 91 and 92 as illustrated in Fig. 11, thus ejecting the shaped wire over the forwardly extending dogs 62.

The stabilizers are completed by securing the wire ends together. This may be done'by welding the ends of the wires together in abutting relation, or the wires may be longer than shown in the drawings and the ends thereof looped together or twisted about overlapping'portions.

Operdtiqn' of the machine switches106 opened and closed in timed sequence by cams positioned on a cam shaft driven by a constant speed motor (Figs. 3, 29).

When the motor is started by a master switch the cam shaft begins to rotateand cam 1 operates micro switch A opposite thereto. Microswitch A energizes one solenoid.

of a double solenoid valve 205 to supply air to the outer end of the cylinder 19. This causes feed roll 15 to be rotateda' distance to feed one-half a length of wire. As

soon as the piston in cylinder 21 has moved a slight distame; a normally closed micro switch 108, in circuit with the constant speed motor, is opened, thereby stopping themotor after it has actuated cam 1 and its micro switch A. When the piston of cylinder 19 has moved its full distance the gear rack connected thereto actuates a stationary micro switch109 which, in turn, energizes the wire so that outward movement-ofthe platesand bars will force the wire forwardly and second solenoid of valve 205, closing off the supply of air. to theend of cylinder19 and opening the air line tothe outer end of cylinder 21. This moves the gear rack 24 in the opposite direction driving the second feed main motor and cam shaft.

Further rotation of the cam shaft causes cam 2 to close its micro switch B energizing one solenoid of a double solenoid valve 206 to supply air to the bottom of the cutoff cylinder 28 forcing the knife 27 upwardly to sever one length of wire. Cam 3 then actuates solenoid switch C to energize the second solenoid of valve 206 causing air to be directed to the upper end of the cylinder 28 to return the knife to its lower inoperative position.

Cab 4 next actuates its micro switch D and energizes one coil of double solenoid valve 201 resulting in the supply of air to the lower end of cylinder 52 to raise the lower movable die 42 from its normal position shown in Fig. 2 into its upper operative position illustrated in Fig. 4 with the wire in the dotted line position.

After the lower die 42 has been moved to its upper position against the fixed die block 38, cam 5 engages its micro switch E and actuates one solenoid of solenoid valve 204 to cause air to be supplied to the lower end of cylinder 82, thereby raising the coiling rack78 and rotating the dogs 62 in opposite directions to coil the wire and bring the long end thereof down below the clip on the adjacent stripper plate 84 and finger 54 of the upper die 53, and to bring the opposite short end of the wire below the clip 83 on the adjacent stripper plate 84. With the wire in this position cam 6 and micro switch F are actuated to operate the second solenoid of valve 204 to supply air to the upper end of the cylinder 82, forcing the piston therein and the rack 78 downwardly to their lower position. As soon as the dogs 62 reverse their direction of rotation the ends of the wire engage the clips 83 on the stripper plates 84 and are held in this position.

Cam 7 next actuates micro switch G controlling one solenoid of valve 203 to supply air to the upper end of cylinder 61 and thereby force the upper die 53 downwardly against the stationary die 38, as shown in Fig. 5, thus completing the shaping of the wire.

Cam 8 thereafter actuates microswitch H connected to solenoid valves 201 and 203 to simultaneously operate these solenoid valves and supply air to the upper end of the cylinder 62 and the lower end of the cylinder 61, thus returning the lower die 42 to its lower position and the upper die 53 to its upper position.

Further rotation of the cam shaft causes cam 9 to actuate micro switch I connected to solenoid valve 202 to effect the supply of air to the forward end of the cylinder to move the horizontal bar 95 rearwardly. This movement of the horizontal bar pivots the free end of the dogs 62 outwardly and also forces the stripper plate 84 and stripper bars 85 forwardly ejecting the formed wire from'the machine.

Cam 10 actuates micro switch J to supply air to the outer end of cylinder 104 and restore the machine to starting position. Check valves 110 may be inserted in the air lines to the opposite ends of the cylinder 104. As the cam shaft has then completed one rotation its continued rotation causes the entire operation to be auto.- matically repeated.

While particular embodiments of this invention. have been illustrated and described, it willbe understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims to cover any modifications that come within the true scope of this invention.

Iclaim: V p v l. A wire shaping machine comprisinga frame, a

central shaping die having cooperating dies at opposite ends thereof, said dies being movably mounted on said frame for movement relatively toward and away from" each other, means for feeding predetermined lengths of wire between two of said dies, said two dies having their opposed ends shaped to bend the ends of the wire therebetween toward said third die, a hollow tube positioned at opposite sides of said central shaping die having a coiling member rotatably mounted in the end thereof and extending radially outward therefrom, means for moving said two dies relatively toward each other to bend the ends vof a wire therebetween against said hollow tubes, and means for rotating said coiling members to bend said wire about said tubes and toward said third die.

2. A wire shaping machine comprising a frame, a central shaping die having cooperating dies at opposite ends thereof, said dies being movably mounted on said frame for movement relatively toward and away from each other, means for feeding predetermined lengths of wire between two of said dies, said two dies having their opposed ends shaped to bend the ends of the wire therebetween toward said third die, a hollow tube positioned at opposite sides of said central shaping die having a coiling member rotatably mounted in the end thereof and extending radially outward therefrom, means for moving said two dies relatively toward each other to bend the ends of a wire therebetween against said hollow tubes, means for rotating said coiling members to bend said wire about said tubes and toward said third d-ie, means for moving the coiling members inwardly of the outer dimensions of said tubes, outwardly movable ejecting members mounted on said frame positioned to engage the shaped wire, and means for moving said ejecting members outwardly to discharge the shaped wire from the machine.

3. A machine as defined in claim 2 in Which the central shaping die has its opposite ends concavely rounded,

and the dies at opposite ends thereof have their adjacent ends wider than the rounded ends of said central die with the sides thereof flared outwardly toward said cen tral die. 7

4. A machine as defined in claim 2 in which the central shaping die has its opposite ends concavely rounded, and the dies at opposite ends thereof have their adjacent ends wider than the endsof said central die and formed with central projecting portions shaped to force the wire into said concavely rounded ends of the central die and side portions flared outwardly toward said central die.

5. A wire shaping machine comprising a frame, a central shaping die having cooperating dies at opposite ends thereof, said dies being movably mounted on said frame for movement relatively toward and away from each other, means for feeding predetermined lengths of wire between two of said dies, said two dies having their opposed ends shaped to bend the ends of the wire therebetween toward said third die, a hollow tube positioned at opposite sides of said central shaping die having a coiling member rotatably mounted in the end thereof and extending radially outward therefrom, means for moving said two dies relatively toward each other to bend the ends of a wire therebetween against said hollow tubes, means for rotating said coiling members to bend said wire about said tubes and toward said third die, means for moving the coiling members inwardly of the outer dimensions of said tubes, outwardly movable ejecting members mounted on said frame positioned to engage the shaped wire, means for moving said ejecting members outwardly to discharge the shaped wire from the machine, and automatically acting means for controlling the actuation of said feeding means, cooperating dies, coiling members, and ejecting means in predetermined t-irn'ed sequence.

6. In a wire shaping machine, means for forming a loop in a length of wire comprising a rotatably mounted guide member about which the wire is to be looped having an opening inone side inwardly of the outer end thereof, a coiling dog pivotally mounted on said guide" member and projecting substantially radially outwardly through said opening, said coiling dog having a wire engaging lip on the free end thereof facing generally away from the outer end of said guide member, means tending to maintain said dog in substantially said radial position, an inclined cam portion adjacent said guide member positioned to be engaged by said coiling dog during rotation thereof with said guide member to raise the lip of said dog and permit it to pass over the wire adjacent thereto and engage the opposite side thereof upon rotation of said dog, and means for rotating said guide member and dog.

7. In a wire shaping machine, means for forming a loop in a length of wire comprising a rotatably mounted guide member about which the wire is to be looped having an opening in one side inwardly of the outer end thereof, a coiling dog pivotally mounted on said guide member and projecting substantially radially outwardly through said opening, said coiling dog having a Wire engaging lip on the free end thereof facing generally away from the outer end of said guide member, resilient means tending to maintain said dog in substantially said radial position, an inclined cam portion adjacent said guide member positioned to be engaged by said coiling dog during rotation thereof with said guide member to raise the lip of said dog and permit it to pass over the wire adjacent thereto and engage the opposite side thereof upon rotation of said dog, and means for rotating said guide member and dog.

8. In a wire shaping machine, means for forming a loop in a length of wire comprising a rotatably mounted guide member about which the wire is to be looped having an opening in one side inwardly of the outer end thereof, a coiling dog pivotally mounted on said guide member and projecting substantially radially outwardly through said opening, said coiling dog having a wire engaging lip on the free end thereof facing generally away from the outer end of said guide member, means tending to maintain said dog in substantially said radial position, an inclined cam portion adjacent said guide member positioned to be engaged by said coiling dog during rotation thereof with said guide member to raise the lip of said dog and permit it to pass over the wire 10 adjacent thereto and engage the'opposite side thereof upon rotation of said dog, means for rotating said guide member and dog and actuating means associated with said dog and movable generally longitudinally of said guide member for pivoting said dog to bring it into substantial alignment with said guide member.

9. In a wire shaping machine, means for forming a loop in a length of wire'comprising a rotatably mounted guide member about which the wire is to be looped having an opening in one side inwardly of the outer end thereof, a coiling dog pivotally mounted on said guide member and projecting substantially radially outwardly through said opening, said coiling dog having a wire engaging lip on the free end thereof facing generally away from the outer end of said guide member, resilient means tending to maintain said dog in substantially said radial position, an inclined cam portion adjacent said guide member positioned to be engaged by said coiling dog during rotation thereof with said guide member to raise the lip of said dog and permit it to pass over the wire adjacent thereto and engage the opposite side thereof upon rotation of said dog, means for rotating said guide member and dog, and actuating means associated with said dog movable within and longitudinally of said guide member for pivoting said dog to bring it into substantial alignment with said guide member.

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